For whom I have suffered the loss of all things. !" Here St Paul confirms his resolution and judgment of the value of Christ above all other things ; first, he said he accounted him gain, and all other things loss. Lest men should think these were but brags, he infers* he had sufi"ered the loss of all for him, and therefore did so highly esteem of him ; and then it was he was for Christ's sake stripped of all. He was in want, hungry, naked, went in danger of his death often, nay, he willingly sufi'ered the loss of his privileges. He was an apostle, yet not worthy of the name, as he says ; and for his care in his office, though he were very diligent, yet by it did he not look to merit. He suffered the loss of ail willingly. He wrought this on his heart, to lose all for Christ ; which is the duty that a Christian must learn, not to be only patient, but willingly to lose, to part with all. And therefore we are bidden to examine ourselves, to judge and condemn ourselves. And though the Lord hath not called us * That is, ' he gives lliis inference,' = shews. — G.
pniLippiANS cnAP. Ill, vim. 8. 89
to the loss of al], yet win thus much of thy mind, as to he prepared for to lose all when we shall be called thereunto, and that in regard thereof, we may say we have parted with all ; for in that we part with them in our affections, God beholds it and takes notice thereof, and likes it, and looks for it ; and therefore he bids us leave all and follow him ; and if we forsake not all, honour, credit, yea, our lives, we cannot be his disciples.
And do count them hut dung.
Shewing his loathing of them, and that he could not endure the thought of them, but did abhor it as dogs' vomit, or dogs' meat, accounting it fit meat for none but such dogs as he spake before of. If therefore we love Christ, there will be a detestation of those things that cross the power of Christ's merits, in the same degree that we love Christ, and we will express our degree of love of him, by expressing the degree of hatred we bear to other things in comparison of him.
Quest. But why doth the apostle so often inculcate these words ?
Ans. To sJieio the expression of the largeness of his own heart ; and thereby to work an impression thereof in the hearts of the Philippians.
2. Secondly, To sliew the power of the Sinrit, ilmi where it once leads, it leads further and further to a higher degree of love of Christ ; that the longer he is loved, the greater will love grow and more fervent, so as the spirit constrains the person where it rules, that he cannot but speak, Acts iv. 20.
3. Thirdly, To sheio the excellency of the srdijcct. He dwells upon it, that we should think highly of it. Also,
4. Fourthly, To shew the necessity thereof; without which we cannot look for salvation.
5. Fifthly, To shew the difficulty of coming to this esteem of Christ ; and to subdue our proud imaginations of our own selves, which, however, it will prove a hard and dithcult matter.
G. Lastly, In regard of the Pliilippians, he Jcnew it ivoidd he a difficult matter for them, and therefore he souglit out fit words to express the nature of the suhjcct and the truth of his esteem. Thus did the wise man, Eccles. xii. 10, 11, who knew that the words of the wise man are as goads. It is our duty to take notice hereof therefore, and to learn in what respect these outward things are good, and to rank them in their right places.
That I may ivin Christ.
To win Christ, in this place, is to get a more near communion with Christ ; a fuller assurance of him, and a larger portion in him. For St Paul had Christ already ; and that made him desire a fuller enjoj'ment of him. Though his heart was not large enough to entertain all Christ, yet he desired to be satisfied with his fulness.
1. First, then, it is here to be gi'anted that Christ is gain, else why should the apostle desire to win him ? He is gain, I say, both in himself considered, and having respect to us. In himself considered ; for no jewel is comparable to God-man, to a Mediator. He was enriched with all graces that the manhood was capable of. But much more in regard of us ; for, first, he is our ' ransom ' from the wrath of God. Now we know a ransom must be a gainful thing, and of no small price that must satisfy God's wrath.
2. Secondly, He is not only our ransom, but our purchase ; purchasing God's favour and heaven to us.
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8. Thirdly, He is our treasure ; for all things for this present life, as also for a better ; in him aro the treasures of heavenly wisdom ; and of his ful- ness -wo all receive grace for grace. Ho is our comfort iu trouble, and direction iu all our perplexities.